Electrical malfunction or lamp likely caused house fire

Friday

Dec 27, 2013 at 9:59 AM

By John MulcahyDaily Telegram Staff Writer

Firefighters believe either an electrical problem or a lamp caused a fire that was discovered at about 10 a.m. Tuesday at a home in the 2800 block of Bent Oak Highway in Adrian Township, township assistant fire chief Doug Betz said Thursday.

Because firefighters cannot pinpoint the cause, the origin of the fire is listed as “undetermined,” Betz said.

The fire’s cause is not considered suspicious, Betz said.

The fire, which started in the basement of the home and went up the walls into the attic, caused smoke, heat and fire damage throughout the house, Betz said. There was water damage as well. Betz did not yet have a dollar estimate of the damage.

The homeowner, who was asleep in an upstairs bedroom when the fire began, woke up choking from smoke, Betz said. The man first tried to leave by the bedroom door, then went to a window and opened it to get some fresh air.

A woman passing by the house found a ladder that the homeowner, who was renovating the house, had left in the yard, Betz said. She managed to put the ladder against the house, and a man who also was passing by helped her get it to the window.

With the two passers-by steadying the ladder, the homeowner was able to climb out of the house.

The homeowner, who was the only person in the house, was not injured, and family and friends later arrived to help him, Betz said.

Betz said he does not know the identity of the passers-by.

Because the fire started in the basement and was burning the floor of the first story, firefighters could not fight the fire from inside the house, Betz said.

Adrian Township firefighters were assisted at the scene by firefighters from Adrian city and Madison, Raisin, Cambridge and Palmyra townships, and by the Sand Lake Fire Department. Tecumseh city firefighters covered the Adrian Township fire station while firefighters were at the fire.